Julie Williams
Paul Falk, Director
Allen Matthews
Leslie Beukelman
Kim Dawson
Kara Leigh Baxter
Julie graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Music Education. While attending UNC she sang in Sus 4, a female jazz quartet, Etcetera, a jazz quintet, and Vocal Jazz I and can be heard on UNC Hot XI and XIII CD's. While in college Julie was a counselor and teacher at the Yellowstone annual summer vocal jazz camp. She eventually realized that Colorado needed a jazz camp to give high school students an opportunity to experience solo jazz singing etc. Julie, with help from her vocal jazz friends from UNC, started the Rocky Mountain Vocal Jazz Camp in 1999. Julie has been involved with Colorado All-State Jazz. Currently Julie is the Choral Director at Eaglecrest High School in the Cherry Creek School District.
A Colorado native, Paul earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado, where he was active in the Jazz Studies Department and served as the primary student accompanist for vocal recitals and juries. He also established a ten part men’s acapella group, InterMezZo. In 2002, Paul made the move to Chicago to pursue his Masters of Jazz Performance degree in Voice/Piano. In Chicago, Paul studied under Mike Molloy, Laurence Hobgood, and Patricia Barber. He is an active accompanist, arranger, vocal percussionist and jazz vocalist. Paul is featured on Patricia Barber’s "Mythologies" album as a background vocalist, and has also had the opportunity to work with such artists as Groove Society, Four Freshmen, Acappella, Grazyna Auguscik, M-Pact!, The Real Group, Roger Treece, Phil Mattson, Von Freeman, Terrance Mann, Peter Eldridge, and Mark Murphy. Paul is now teaching at Rocky Mountain High School directing four choirs, including Spotlight, Rocky's Vocal Jazz Choir. Spotlight has performed at CMEA and 2010 SWACDA Conference along with working with artists such as Roger Treece, Judy Niemack and New York Voices.
Allen holds an ED.S. in Higher Education Leadership, a M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and a Bachelor of Music Education degree all from the University of Northern Colorado. While at UNC, he served as a teaching assistant for the Jazz Studies Department, directed Vocal Jazz I, sang as a member of UNC’s top vocal jazz group the Northern Colorado Voices and served as the assistant director of the 34th Annual UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival. For 4 years he worked as co-governor of the Colorado All State Jazz Choir. He has performed at numerous conferences, conventions, festivals, and has performed with and headlined for Kurt Elling, Bob Dorough, Sunny Wilkinson, Jason Marsalis, Frank Mantooth, Ronnie Bedford, M-PACT, Beach Front Property and the Coats. Allen loves to spend time with is wife Tara, and his sons Miles and Quincy. He is currently a teacher for the Church Educational System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Originally from Sandwich, IL and a recent graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) at Roosevelt University, Leslie graduated with her Bachelor’s of Music degree with honors, focusing in jazz voice performance. She has taken improvisation/voice lessons from both instrumentalists and voice teachers, including: Jackie Allen & Patricia Barber (Blue Note recording artists), Mike Molloy, and Andrew Distel. While performing as the vocalist for the CCPA Jazz Orchestra Leslie earned two outstanding soloist awards at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival. Leslie was also a member of the CCPA’s two-time Downbeat award-winning vocal jazz group, The New Deal. In January of 2003, Leslie performed with The New Deal at the IAJE Conference in Toronto, Canada. She is also a three-time Union League Club/Civic and Arts Foundation Jazz Improvisation Scholarship winner.
Now a freelance musician, Leslie is establishing her voice. She is the vocalist in the Chicago-based quartet, Information Superhighway, who recently released their first full-length album, “First Morning.” Combining elements of jazz, rock, and folk, this progressive jazz-indie rock band performs their original music in rock venues around the city. Leslie also sings alto in Chicago’s award-winning 5 voice acappella group Stripped, focusing on improvisation and using the voice in music with no boundaries. She has just released her Solo album titled "Here I Am". (CD Baby/Itunes) Leslie is in her 3rd year on the RMVJC Faculty, and has been seen performing in Denver at Dazzle and in Chicago at the Green Mill, Catch 35, The Signature Room on the 95th, and Cyrano’s.
3rd year RMVJC faculty member Kim began singing in church choirs and praise bands at a very young age, often singing with her parents' gospel group. Growing up in a musical family inspired her to begin studying classical violin when she was five years old. She performed with youth orchestras and in countless violin competitions. In high school and college, Kim focused primarily on singing. She was in the top choirs and vocal jazz ensembles at both Texas Christian University and the University of Northern Colorado, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance. Through the years, Kim has also performed in musical theater, performing the roles of Nancy (Oliver!), Calamity Jane (Calamity Jane), and Brenda (Smokey Joe's Cafe). She continues to perform with various jazz combos in the Denver area, as well as with Groove Society.
A violinist since the age of 4, Kara Leigh has long been captivating audiences with her musical talent. A native of Nebraska, Kara grew up with a wealth of musical influences in her family of musicians. On a classical violin scholarship to the University of Colorado at Boulder, Kara joined the Vocal Jazz Ensemble her junior year. Her senior year she was chosen to sing in a select group of four women in a Vocal jazz quartet. This experience led Kara to study jazz more seriously, taking lessons with pianists Chip Stephens and Art Lande. Kara decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies, which led her to the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. It was here she merged her love of singing jazz with her prowess on the violin, under the direction of Patricia Barber, Scott Mason and Mike Molloy. She sang lead soprano in the Downbeat award winning Vocal Jazz Ensemble “The New Deal.” Kara currently resides in Lincoln, NE and teaches jazz at Doane College, directing the vocal jazz ensemble “Jazz Unlimited” and the Jazz Band. She also teaches violin at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Her jazz combo performs regularly in Midwest clubs, concert venues, and music festivals. She has graced the stage of the Lied Center for Performing Arts, The Rococo Theatre, and the renowned "Zoo Bar", in Lincoln, NE. Kara released her first CD, “Black Coffee” in November of 2007.